Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1887-08-28
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There are alwavu The greatest induce
menfs 70 knrticulturisss 70 enlttxats
their crops well: but i there are 0feAp
er Inducements ~ one time than N.
other, Il i when prices are low But
such Is the peryersity OF human nA-
tnre, when products are lowest most
horficulturisfs are pr0ne 90 neglect
their crops, unmindful OF the fact that
when prices are low, cost should be
made lower. The surest way 70 reduce
cost d 70 increase the yield per aere.
On the contrary, when prices are high
the h0Eticalturist Is iubnant and en-
thusiasfie, and Is much more likely
- devote extra time 70 the culture o.
his crops than when the prices are
low.
when prices are low, the grower q
fruits Is depressed, discouraged, and
much more Inclined TO dig or plow mp
his fruits than 70 manure and cultivate
more. Although It Is not advisable for
business men 70 allow themselves 10 be
governed By their feelings, We are not
certain thai il would be unwise for
growers who are convinced that straw
berries and raspberTies have not paid
them this season 70 plow under or dig
up their plantations. Their plAnta-
tions we're probably too large-were
not made rich enough-were not prop
erIy prepared by Deep fine culture.
Care enough was not exercised IN Sc
lecting strong, vigorous plants 70
transplant. The plants were planted
too hastily, the soil was not firmly
pressed around the roots Of every plant;
Consequently many plants died, leay-
ing vacancies. Others Just made out
70 live, and did not bear enough fruit
to pav ground rent. These weak, fee
bic, hall dead plants are Just the ones
that succumb 70 the attacks Of insects
OF fungus; that burn or dry out In .
summer, and freeze or heaye out In
winter.
Then. again, the weeds and grass
were allowed 10 start and grow, were
not promptly destroyed, eradicated;
and when you did give them battle,
their roots were % intertwined among
the roots Of the berry plants that you
were only able to extract them by
also disturbing the roots Of the berry
plants.
So. upon the whole, we guess you
had better dig up those old planta-
tons. They were too large, anyway,
and that was one reason Why they
we're not better cultivated. You did
not have enough capital, and Labor,
and brains, perhaps, TO thoroughly
cultivate so large an area, and should
hare put all your capital and labor and
brains on one-haH or one-fourth the
area. Dig up the old plantations and
begin 70 prepare other pieces OF good
land for new plantations on which you
may be able to grow berries at much
less cost. Lay out no larger planta-
tons than you can till well. Break up
the soil deep. You want 4 deep, fer
tile soil to grow maximum crops OF
berries.
After you have worked up the soil
fine and crushed all the clods with cul-
tivator, harrow and roll. top-dress Il
with rich barnyard manure, made BY
animals fed on grain and oilmeai. This
manure should be narrowed and mixed
with surface soil afew times before win
ter sets in.
Before next spring learn where you
can get good, strong, selected plants OF
those varieties which the experience
of the most successful growers In your
locality has proved the most profita-
bic. DO not hesitate 10 pay an extra
price for selected plants; you can't
afford to plant any other, though they
NAV be obtained for nothing. Then,
when the soil is dry, in the spring,
plant them, and take plenty Of time
10 do il. Trust no untried, unreliable
hands to plant for you. You want to
select such plants, and plant them
with such care that every one shall
make large maximum stool, capable
Of bearing heavy crop Of berries.
You have been through your straw
berries or your raspberries, and, point
ing to . few fine stools, many times
remarked: II ell the stools or hills
were like that, OF like those, ] should
have 800 bushels 20 the acre" But the
stools dwindled all the way down from
the best to nothing. Now you want
to aim TO grow such plantations Of
berries that all the stools shall be equal
10 the best--that there shall be no poor
ones.
Now, let us figure a little. II costs
you, say. 21z cents q quart 10 pick and
market your strawberries, and they
average you taking the season through,
but ~ cents. That allows ysu bat l
cent a quart 10 pay for rent Of land
first cost Of plants and manure, and
all the labor Of cultivation up 70 the
time Of picking. besides boxes, crates,
etc. Now, we will say your strawber-
ries Welded fifty bushels tl600 quarts
per acre, which is above the average
Yield. That, at cent quart above
cost Of picking and marketing, would
give you SIC Tor rent Of land and al
your labor IN cultivation. No wonder
you say there Is no profit in strawber-
ries. There Is a decided loss, and the
more acres you cultivate the greater
the loss.
Now, on the other hand, we win say
that 800 bushels Is q possible crops
crop that is frequently exceeded; 80
bushels are 900 quarts, which, az
cent a quart, amounts 10 $50. That
would pay your rent, pay Tor your ma
uure. plants and labor, and leave a de
cided surplus besides.
When you have produced such re
suits on one acre, you viii have &C,
| qnired the knowledge, experience and
confidence 20 Try II on two acres, but
YOU must be very careful not 20 expand
too rapidly-not 10 get too much OF
hand % enable you 70 give Il promptly
the most intense culture American
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